New England had a chance to clinch a first-round bye depending what happened to the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals later Sunday.
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The New England Patriots took care of business at Gillette Stadium Sunday afternoon with a 33-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.
New England Patriots, the reigning National Football League champions, held onto the top spot in the AFC Sunday night with a comfortable 33-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Marcus Mariota was sacked three times and knocked out of the game with a right knee injury early in the second quarter. He was replaced by Zach Mettenberger, who went 20-of-28 passing for 242 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Patriots defense got on the board in the second quarter, as Chandler Jones forced a fumble from Titans’ quarterback Marcus Mariota. And in the Patriots’ newly formed backfield by committee, which also includes Brandon Bolden and Joey Iosefa, White has emerged as a big-play threat in the passing game. Guys are going out, guys are coming in, and you’re just doing the best you can to be productive and eliminate critical mistakes and take advantage of scoring opportunities.
DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS: Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins intercepted Mettenberger and ran it back 51 yards to set up the clinching field goal.
Despite the win, Patriots suffered more injuries Sunday night as linebacker Dont’a Hightower (knee), receiver Danny Amendola (knee) and safety Patrick Chung (hip) left the game during various junctures.
Brady missed Friday’s practice with an illness and was officially listed as questionable, but the quarterback said he was 100 percent when asked after the game.
All three left the game and did not return. Running backs Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount are among those lost for the season. Instead, they have recorded their sixth straight season with at least 12 wins.
The Patriots have won two in a row since stumbling to consecutive losses – their first two-game losing streak since 2012.
“A lot of positive things, still a lot of football left here”, Bill Belichick said.
“Jamie Collins is the best athlete I ever saw”, Hicks said. The first time the Patriots offense took the field, they marched 79 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. “We thought we’d rather err on the side of caution”. With only two games left – and with the Titans in position only to secure a lower pick in the draft if they win one of the last two games – they’d be wise to keep him out for the rest of the year.
“To be 12-2 is a good record”.
“I was just pointing up to him because I know he’s up there watching”, Gronkowski said of his touchdown celebration.
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The Titans have outscored their past two opponents 21-12 in the second half, with a 176-yard edge and seven more first downs.
